Not Your Typical Pixie

If you ask a human to describe a pixie, more often than not they will describe a tall graceful figure with pointed ears and a kind eye. Growing up a pixie, this human vision is engrained in us from the moment training begins. It consists of learning how to safely use the powers we are assigned at birth. The council decides which pixie gets which powers depending on the need for each type. If more water pixies are needed one year, a surplus will be created. Sadly I defy everything about pixie culture and managed to evade the council and create my own powers. Now I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. The only downside is I am shunned by family and friends and only know a small group of rebels like myself.

From a young age, we are taught to appear non-threatening and do our best to help when needed if spotted. Pixies are supposed to care for nature and ensure the balance is kept. Most try to stay out of the human eye, and me being me does the exact opposite. I like to hide in lamps and pretend to be a genie as the humans have christened me. I enact my revenge for Mother Earth with malicious compliance. Every time a wish is uttered, I complete their request as literally as possible. For example: if someone wished to be tall, I would make them gigantic. This plan worked FLAWLESSLY until one human girl threw my entire world into a tizzy.

When she rubbed the lamp, I flew out in all of my splendor putting on my best show. I rehearsed the song and dance for WEEKS and strategically planted my lamp so no one could miss it. After my brilliantly choreographed song and dance number, I swopped down and asked her what her wish was. The conversation went a little something like this…

“Well, that was a show” And then she walked away, not even sparing me another glance.

Confusingly enough, she didn’t care that a magical being just promised her anything she could think of. Thinking she may have not heard me I tried again. 

“Anything your heart desires can be created, just utter the magic words, and the deed will be done.” When she stopped I thought I had successfully reeled her in. The next thing she said shocked me.

“What’s in it for you?”

Never had anyone stopped to ask me ANYTHING about myself, normally they were too caught up in the fact that I existed to think logically. My mouth was slightly ajar as I floated a few feet above the floor just staring at her, barely processing her question. The smirk she gave me SCREAMED ‘I told you so’ and she continued to walk.

“Hold on, hold on, hold on” My words came out jumbled like I had no control over my mouth. This caused her to pause mid-step, turning around ever so slightly and looking me up and down with an air of ‘I’m waiting!?”

“You expect me to believe that a magical being with all the time in the world is generously granting wishes to anyone who rubs a lamp? I’m not buying it. Also, real genies don’t wear sandals.”

Now she had me cornered, first, she recognized my sandals. Second, why was she not falling for it? I put on a brilliant show. Also, I wanted to set her straight about the sandals, because they are the only good thing that has ever come out of human existence.

“What’s with the grudge against sandals? They are comfy.”

“For starters they make you look like a middle-aged dad, and normally genies wear silk shoes according to lore.”

“I never wrote that” Well shoot, now she’s going to catch on that genies don’t exist. Curse my sandal-fueled brain, I wasn’t thinking straight.

“Oh? Tell me more”

“I’d rather not darling, it’s getting late so I gotta bounce! Bye-bye!” I almost made it out of there, but at the last second, she said….

“I wish for you to tell me everything I ask, only the truth and no twisting my words”

My first thought? I’m doomed, my second thought: this girl is good. Blanking out on what to do and where to begin I just floated with my mouth slightly ajar(deja-vu am I right?). For the second time this evening, she smiled at me without it reaching her eyes. 

“Unlike you, I don’t have all the time in the world, so start talking genie.”

“Now, do you know what nature is? ” I saw her brow furrow and quickly cut in before she could yell at me. Contrary to popular belief, she scares me and I am NOT invincible.

“Ok I promise this is relevant, you did give me no loopholes after all.” Her face remained slightly ticked off but she relaxed her shoulders and motioned me to continue.

“So, nature has order and law, I’m sure you have learned about the food chain in school?” I paused for her to acknowledge my statement and once I saw a brief nod, I carried on. “Humans have police officers to enforce the law, and mother nature has something similar-pixies.” Even though I didn’t necessarily want to show her what I truly looked like and spill my master plan, she gave me no choice. With a quick spin, I returned to my pale green skin, soft leather shoes and tunic, and light brown hair. Coincidentally my appearance is similar to a teenage boy around her age. 

“You have probably already guessed but I am a pixie, gifted with magic powers by mother earth herself sworn to protect those who inhabit the earth. For millennia there was no anger or hatred towards your kind. Then you got greedy and started destroying our shared home. Our culture revolves around helping, so it is hard to defend the earth, or gain a following to push back. That’s why I masquerade as a genie, to get some form of revenge. Every time someone wishes something, I try to twist it to the best of my ability so it will ruin their life-I am a nice guy I know.” The entire time her face remained expressionless. And remained like that for a good five minutes after I stopped speaking, causing me to grow increasingly more nervous as time passed. The next words out of her mouth shocked me for the third time in an hour. 

“Hey pixie, want some help?”